Cinco de Mayo Recipe: Marcela’s Pico de Gallo

Mexican Made Easy host Marcela Valladolid is throwing a Cinco de Mayo party all week long at the Food Network and you’re invited! Marcela was nice enough to send me a few of her recipes to share with the Wannabe TV Chef readers.

Be sure to trip over to the Food Network’s Cinco de Mayo HQ for more recipes and tips from the whole FN gang. I’ll be posting a more of Marcela’s recipes throughout the week so be sure to check back daily right HERE.

Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl, and toss to combine. Cover and chill until ready to serve. This salsa can be made 4 hours ahead.

Cook’s Note: In Mexico, pico de gallo is used to describe a wide variety of regional salsas, which are always made with fresh cubed fruit and/or vegetables. The most common version is made with any red tomato, onion and green chiles and is sometimes called “salsa mexicana” or “salsa bandera,” because the colors in the salsa represent the Mexican flag.

*The serrano chile is a fresh, small, green chile. Traditionally used in salsas it is slightly hotter than a jalapeno chile and can be found at most supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online.

Substitute jalapeno for the serrano if serrano is too hot or hard to find.

Stuart is a celebrity chef, food activist and award-winning food writer. He penned the cookbooks Third Coast Cuisine: Recipes of the Gulf of Mexico, No Sides Needed: 34 Recipes To Simplify Life and Amigeauxs - Mexican/Creole Fusion Cuisine. He hosts two Internet cooking shows "Everyday Gourmet" and "Little Grill Big Flavor." His recipes have been featured in Current, Lagniappe, Southern Tailgater, The Kitchen Hotline and on the Cooking Channel.